Back to the grind this past month. Maryland Deathfest was f’n awesome. I had a blast, got to see a bunch of ‘out of town’ old friends, pretty much 90% of the bands were fantastic! Please Satan, Buddha, Universe, Whoever – let there be more of them!!! Also been to a few shows lately, everything seems to be back to normal post all the covid bullsh*t. Got a few more shows lined up here in the next few months, but the fall is looking really lean so far.
Here are my reviews of recently released albums that I think you should know about. Forget about these in-depth reviews, I’m bringing you quick reviews on multiple releases to help you guide your way through the METAL world today!
BASICALLY, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, LIKE IT OR NOT…
Ratings: [0(sucks) to 5(awesome)]
{Format: Band – album title = rating |label |style of metal. review}
MISERY INDEX – Complete Control = 3.5/5 |Century Media |DEATH METAL/GRINDCORE
After releasing probably their 2 best albums The Killing Gods and Rituals of Power can this new album even stack up? Well, yes and no, plain answer: it’s not better than those last two albums but it’s in 3rd place! I’m blown away how MISERY INDEX is producing this top-quality material album after album after album. Complete Control is straight vicious and gritty in its approach. There’s enough cross over genres (from death to grind to punk to hardcore) blended into this madness to keep you thoroughly entertained. There’s a bit of experimentation as it seems like the band tried to make some of the songs have that epic type of feel. Complete Control is a perfect accessible head-banging album that all metal fans can get on board with! This might show up on my top albums for 2022! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: DYING FETUS, NAPALM DEATH, NASUM, ASSUCK
KREATOR – Hate Uber Alles = 2.25/5 |Nuclear Blast |THRASH METAL
One of my two favorite nowadays thrash bands that are still producing at a top level as similar to back in the day is KREATOR and the other being EXODUS. At 40 years in and 15 albums, which they have done before, that experimentation bug shows back up. Luckily, they don’t go full overboard with trying some new things. KREATOR still has that old school spirit and that comeback aggression from the Violent Retribution album but incorporated a few different things as most of the tracks have that epic/sing along type feel, a strong NWOBHM vibe on some and even female vocals on one track. I think the album is OK but it’s probably their weakest since their comeback album Violent Retribution so I can see some fans not digging this. If you’re a fan come into with an open mind! 11 tracks, 1 intro, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: DESTRUCTION, SODOM, EXODUS, SLAYER, TANKARD, POSSESSED, CORONER
SOREPTION – Jord = 3.75/5 |Unique Leader |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
SOREPTION is the only band that has come close to PSYCROPTIC in its style of play but also totally different. A friend told me to pick up the Illuminate the Excessive debut EP back when it came out and I was blown away as it sounded like PSYCROPTIC mixed with SUFFOCATION and MESHUGGAH. Their first 2 albums were incredible as the last one Monument of the End was OK. Now their 4th album Jord is here, and it’s brought back that earlier feel of intensity and grooves! I’m not a fan of the keyboard parts on a few tracks, they just seem unnecessary. Jord is an album that shows you why all these young kids are obsessed with tech DM, this is solid from start to finish. The more and more I listen to this the more I like it. Not saying it’s a “grows on you” type album but it just keeps getting better with each spin. This might be in my top albums for 2022! 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: PSYCROPTIC, DECAPITATED, SPAWN OF POSSESSION, AEON, GOROD
DECAPITATED – Cancer Culture = 2.5/5 |Nuclear Blast |GROOVE/DEATH METAL
We can all agree that early DECAPITATED was killer. For a moment there they had that perfect formula on the Nihility, The Negation and Organic Hallucinosis albums of Tech Death mixed with the grooves of PANTERA and were an unstoppable force but after the accident DECAPITATED was never the same. Form Carnival is Forever to the last album Anticult I was not a fan at all. A lot of people are talking about this album so I’m giving it a try. It doesn’t really match their earlier albums but where has this DECAPITATED been?!? Kind of that perfect bland of getting over that b.s. of the last few albums back into their earlier sound. Half of this album is in the direction of old DECAPITATED and the other half is blah, so hopefully the next album will be fully in the right direction. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you were a fan of them back in the day. 10 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: VADER, CRYPTOPSY, MESHUGGAH, RIVERS OF NIHIL, MAN MUST DIE, MACHINE HEAD
DESTRUCTION – Diabolical = 2/5 |Napalm |THRASH METAL
DESTRUCTION is a staple in the thrash world but since the late 90’s they’ve been a hit or miss when it comes to new albums. The last album I really enjoyed was Spiritual Genocide from a decade ago. Their last album Born to Perish was very boring. Diabolical has stepped things up a bit in the right direction but overall, really nothing special here, a few good bangers. This is DESTRUCTION plain and simple. The album starts off good then plummets. It feels like the energy is here but the song writing just doesn’t match up. I think super die-hard fans will eat this up while the average fan won’t. 13 tracks, GBH cover, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: KREATOR, SODOM, SLAYER, TANKARD, EXODUS, VENOM, ONSLAUGHT
ORIGIN – Chaosmos = 1.5/5 |Nuclear Blast |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
Maybe it’s me but has ORIGIN run its course? Probably not but this is a love it or hate it type album. ORIGIN has given us some creative and intense dynamics with their albums. With every new album being more diverse and pushing the limits of the ORIGIN sound. Chaosmos seems like a reach back to their past and making things a bit simpler. The song writing doesn’t seem to push the boundaries but rather give us tracks that you’ve heard before from other albums. I’m just not impressed with Chaosmos. If you’re not going to give us mind melting technical speed riffs, then offer up some speed grooves similar to the 1st album or Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas. To me, this sounds like a rush album or ran out of ideas type album. Call me a hater if you want but I’m not feeling it. 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: CRYPTOPSY, SUFFOCATION, ARCHSPIRE, UNMERCIFUL, BRAIN DRILL
EVERGREY – A Heartless Portrait: The Orphean Testament = 1.5/5 |Napalm |PROGRESSIVE METAL
Only a year later after their fantastic album Escape of the Phoenix, we get new material with A Heartless Portrait and this album is more melodic and ballad-y. For about that last decade EVERGREY has been top notch and leading the way in the genre as the new album is very much on the same vibe as the last few and they don’t stray to fall from their formula, but these songs seem like leftovers or from the cutting room floor. These tracks are very accessible and a little too simple. Maybe they rushed to put this out but I’m not really feeling it overall. EVERGREY seemed to push the dramatic, melodrama style too hard on this instead of writing some good rocking tracks in my opinion. 10 tracks, 2 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: DREAM THEATER, REDEMPTION, FATES WARNING, AYREON, MORGANA LEFAY
AEGRUS – The Carnal Temples = 2.5/5 |Osmose |BLACK METAL
Finland is a country which it’s BM doesn’t shy away from melancholy and raw emotion. AEGRUS falls right in place as this blasting behemoth shows off more than pummeling aggression. The Carnal Temples takes the normal blast beats and BM riffs but molds them into expanded melody and depressive emotions in their own vibe. AEGRUS can easily stand near the top of the Finland BM scene. Their last EP Wolves Howl Revenge was a beast, and this new EP is good but not as great. A bit more emotions than blasting intensity in this new EP, which is OK, but not my cup of tea. After three albums, they’ve not lost maturity but display a strong Finnish sound that’s still fiery. 4 tracks, 2 are killer and 1 is OK.
ffo: SARGEIST, HORNA, BEHEXEN, SATANIC WARMASTER
SEVERE TORTURE – Fisting the Sockets = 4/5 |Season of Mist |BRUTAL DEATH METAL
WOW! It’s been 12 years?!?! The new EP shows that SEVERE TORTURE is back and haven’t missed a step! Fisting the Sockets is blasting, punishing, head-banging hooks and even a bit of eerie haunting parts. This EP is just f’n solid from start to finish and a must for all DM fans! I can’t wait for the new album and hopefully they get a chance to play live in the states! There’s a possibility with how good these tracks are that their next album could be the best thing they ever written! Go check this out! 3 tracks, all 3 are killer!
ffo: DISAVOWED, PYAEMIA, INVERACITY, PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, CANNIBAL CORPSE
MISERATION – Black Miracles and Dark Wonders = 3.75/5 |Massacre |MELODIC DEATH METAL
Christian Alvestam is one of those dudes no matter what he’s doing I’m checking it out from his guitar work in TORCHBEARER, UNMOORED, INCAPACITY, SVAVELVINTER or just his vocals in SCAR SYMMERTRY, SOLUTION .45, etc… MISERATION is a decent band taking melodic DM mixed with a touch of BM, a pinch of symphonic metal and epic song writing to create something a bit different. With three previous albums that are on that border of OK and Good, Black Miracles and Dark Wonders has blown them out of the water! This is their best album to date! MISERATION has found the right mix this time around and offered an album that is damn good with highly rememberable songs and could be in my top albums for 2022. 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: TORCHBEARER, MORS PRINCIPIUM EST, SOLUTION .45, SCAR SYMMETRY, SOILWORK
SENTIENT HORROR – Rites of Gore = 3.25/5 |Redefining Darkness |DEATH METAL
This is one of those bands that has taken the OSDM trend and brought greatness. A lot of these new OSDM trend bands are just delivering regurgitated stuff we’ve all heard before, but SENTIENT HORROR has taken it and put their own flavor on it. Rites of Gore their third album shows they aren’t stopping yet! SENTIENT HORROR continues to crush with their version of that classic HM-2 sound of up-tempo-ed riffs and smacking some grooves in there for a good head-banging time! There are other newer band playing this style that are signed to the major metal labels that isn’t worth a damn but check out bands that are actually worth it like SENTIENT HORROR, MUTILATRED, and DEATHCROWN. This is a must for DM fans! 10 tracks, an ENTOMBED cover, 4 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: GUTTED, GOREFEST, ENTOMBED, GRAVE, MORTA SKULD
JUNGLE ROT – A Call to Arms = 2/5 |Unique Leader |DEATH METAL
Back in the day I read a review for their demo, and I tried to order it but the letter I got back stated, that it was long sold out and they have a debut album out Skin the Living, so I ordered that and a shirt and absolutely loved their DM with grooves, grooves and more grooves. I’ve been a huge fan all the way until War Zone then after that their sound changed. The grooves weren’t there, and it was more straight forward. Their last album, Jungle Rot, sort of brought back that old school passion but didn’t fully deliver. Now, A Call to Arms is here and it’s more or less that same from the past decade. A few bangers and probably one of the better albums in the past decade but doesn’t match up to their earlier albums. 10 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: OBITUARY, BOLT THROWER, GRAVE, BENEDICTION, HAIL OF BULLETS
BLUT AUS NORD – Disharmonium-Undreamable Abysses = 0.5/5 |Debemur Morti |ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL
Yet again! BLUT AUS NORD is one of the weirdest bands out there! The hit me with a killer album then the next one is weird/way too out there or just boring as all hell, then the cycle repeats. Their last album Hallucinogen was damn good and made my top albums of 2019 list. Now Disharmonium is here and it’s on my biggest disappointments list of 2022! This sounds like the soundtrack to bad LSD trip, with the whole album sounding the same. This is on the verge of unlistenable, I feel like I have to do some heavy drugs to understand and feel what’s going on here. I’m truly bummed out that this suck. 7 tracks, 2 are so-so and the rest is what the fuck…
ffo: DEATHSPELL OMEGA, PORTAL, GODFLESH, KRALLICE, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT
BRUTALITY – Sempiternity = 3.25/5 |Emanzipation |DEATH METAL
Well, eventually everything must come to an end. If I remember correctly BRUTALITY stated they are hanging it up, but they have graced us with 2 new songs before they, once again, put BRUTALITY to rest. Personally, I’m fully bummed out because these 2 new songs are really good. Stuffed with everything BRUTALITY does right these new songs; bring the melodic head-banging riffs into their Florida-ish type grooves that venture into pit inducing song writing that overall maintain their name’s sake: BRUTALITY! A new compilation album featuring these 2 new songs could’ve have easily fit right along with any of their old material! Then there are the two tracks from the Antecedent Offerings 7 inch of 2 re-recorded tracks and 4 tracks live from their appearance at MDF in 2019! I’m extremely happy I gotten to see them live twice since their reformation in 2012. 8 tracks, 4 live, 2 new tracks are killer and 2 re-recorded tracks are killer!
ffo: MALEVOLENT CREATION, DISINCARNATE, MONSTROSITY, RIPPING CORPSE, PESTILENCE
DEMONICAL – Mass Destroyer = 3/5 |Agonia |DEATH METAL
DEMONICAL was formed out of the ashes of CENTINEX during their first break up and took the CENTINEX sound while mixing in more of the old school HM2 vibe. They’ve kept their feet firmly placed in the HM2 sound but instead of rehashing OSDM they’ve pushed forward into the modern DM world to bring their vision forward. Honestly, I like both bands, but I’ve enjoyed DEMONICAL more. Mass Destroyer is a good solid album but doesn’t top their last album World Domination. It does feature more of those Swedish melodic riffs without fully crossing over into the melodic DM world. Overall, a solid head-banging type of album that scratches that OSDM while urging you to kill everyone in the pit. 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: CENTINEX, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED, VOMITORY
NO/MAS – Consume/Deny/Repent = 3.5/5 |Closed Casket Activities |GRINDCORE/DEATH METAL
I’m an average Grind fan and I check out bands every now and then, but NO/MAS is fucking awesome! Taking the best elements of grind and crashing course into DM grooves makes for some fun but top-notch grind! Now their sound may not fit the typical grind but instead brings a harsh mix of grind, death, d-beat and thrash into something every grind/metal head can sink their teeth into. Their two previous EPs Raiz Del Mal and Last Laugh were straight solid grind that totally led to this grinding gem of an album! Consume/Deny/Repent is a catchy and a blasting grind display of intensity that any extreme fan can back! 15 tracks, 7 are killer and 6 are good.
ffo: INSECT WARFARE, NASUM, ASSUCK, MISERY INDEX, FULL OF HELL, PHOBIA
POSTHUMAN ABOMINATION – Mankind Recall = 2.25/5 |Comatose |BRUTAL DEATH METAL
I’m a huge fan of VOMIT THE SOUL, so anything guitarist Max Santarelli does I’m going to check it out! Their debut album Transcending Embodiment was a blasting brutal DM onslaught and basically scratched that VOMIT THE SOUL itch since they disbanded. VOMIT THE SOUL has since reformed with a new album and POSTHUMAN ABOMINATION is also back with their brand of ultra-brutal DM. Mankind Recall is an album that will bash listeners over the head with ultra-technicality and brutality, with a lethal pace that will leave your brain numb. The velocity, ferocity and complexity of this will push away any weak mind fans of what DM is, brutal DM fans only! Not as good as the debut album but still an intense beast of an album. If ultra-blasting brutal DM is your thing, this is a must! 8 tracks, 2 are killer and 5 are good.
ffo: VOMIT THE SOUL, DEEDS OF FLESH, SEPTYCAL GORGE, PUTRIDITY, BLASPHEMER
MISGIVINGS – Misgivings = 3/5 |Dolorem |DEATH METAL
Apparently, they’ve been around since the early 90’s but have finally put out a full-length album, better late than never! If you like fast blasting DM with a touch of BM, then this French band is right up your alley! No quarter, no rest just fast technical riffs and blasting drums this self-titled debut is a relentless attack on your ear drums! With 20+ years of being of being a band, MISIGIVINGS have crafted an impressive debut with blazing yet catchy riffs that leads to one malevolent onslaught of a DM album! A top-notch production just adds to their intense chaos. If the bands in the ffo section are what you enjoy, then this is a mandatory must! I don’t really need to say much, this is a straightforward blasting beast! Check it out! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: ANGELCORPSE, DEICIDE, PERDITION TEMPLE, MORBID ANGEL, KRISIUN, ORIGIN
THORIUM – Danmark = 3/5 |Emanzipation |DEATH METAL
THORIUM has been putting out solid DM albums since 2000 and with their 5th album Danmark, they are back to their brand of OSDM of Swedish mixed with Floridian style. Their second album Unleashing the Demons is my favorite from them as their last album Blasphemy Awakes was very so-so type of album. Danmark is just a meat & potatoes delivery that offers mayhem with punishing grooves to create a one hell of a catchy album. Whether the mood shifts from dismal, to raging ecstatic this a neck-wrecking good listen! This is my second favorite album from them. THORIUM is one of those solid bands that deserve more credit but get passed over and then discovered many years too late! 10 tracks, 1 cover of DOMINUS, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: DOMINUS, NOMINON, CENTINEX, DESULTORY, SOLSTICE, CANNIBAL CORPSE
FLESHLESS – The Kingdom of the Liars = 1.75/5 |Unsigned |DEATH METAL
I was lucky enough to stumble across the CD split FLESHLESS did with MASTIC SCUM featuring their Free Off Pain EP and I was hooked to their brand of deathgrind. When I was in college DJing metal radio I made sure I worked with Obscene Productions so I could continue getting albums from FLESHLESS. I’ve enjoyed all their albums but when the EP Dethroned in Shadows came out, FLESHLESS shifted sound and dropped the grind and focused more on DM. I wasn’t pleased with that direction. There are still a few grind elements but nothing like early albums. The Dethroned in Shadows EP along with the last album Doomed were OK but nothing special. I was hoping for a return to grind but no… more DM. This new digital EP release featuring 2 new tracks and a re-recorded song. 1 song is good, 1 is OK and the re-recorded song is not up the speed of the original, which is a letdown.
ffo: BLOOD RED THRONE, VILE, WACO JESUS, SKINLESS, DEADEN